Southern Utah Museum of Art to host Family Days activities

After hosting many family activities during the 2017 holiday season, the Southern Utah Museum of Art and artsFUSION are bringing back visual art activities for southern Utah families with Family Days. These free programs will be held on the final Saturday of each month at the Southern Utah Museum of Art from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will be taught by Southern Utah University students.

Family Days, formerly known as Family Arts Night Series (FANS), has provided numerous opportunities for parents, children, and grandparents to create together.

Alisa Petersen, Beverley Taylor Sorenson Endowed Chair of Elementary Arts, said: “The new activities for Family Days will be self-guided. This lets participants learn at their own pace and spend as much time as they want on each project. We also hope that participants will be able to replicate these art activities at home on their own and continue experimenting with them after they leave the museum.”

This past semester, families created artwork together with many activities including African block printing, paper art, and watercolor snowflakes. Thanks to the continued support of artsFUSION, the Southern Utah Museum of Art’s Learn + Experience team look forward to continuing this program for families throughout the southern Utah area.

Family Days are free and open to the public. Families are welcome to drop in anytime between 2 and 4 p.m. The activities will be held on Jan. 27, Feb. 24, March 24, and April 28.

For more information, visit www.suu.edu/pva/suma/experience/family-programs.html.

Sun Country Home Solutions working to help put families in homes

Sun Country Home Solutions, as a HUD certified counseling organization, offers counseling services to help those that may be interested in purchasing a home, refinancing the home they have or just learning how to manage their family finances better as it relates to the local economy.

During the past year they have counseled 546 families regarding housing options, home financing options, budgeting and family financial management. Of the families counseled, 48% were able to purchase a new home or refinance their home for more affordable payments. Another 22% are in process and will likely purchase or refinance within the next 60 days. The remaining 30% may remain in their current housing situation but have come away with a better understand of budgeting and the home buying process.

They provide reverse mortgage counseling to seniors considering a reverse mortgage to help them make an informed financial decision regarding their financial circumstances now and in the future.

Recently they started a financial literacy and homebuyer’s education classes with the help of Five County Association of Governments and Bank of American Fork. Homebuyer education can help borrowers improve their credit score and understand everything related to buying a home. Their goal is to help families become homeowners while ensuring they don’t get in over their heads which can stress the family budget by buying a home that is too expensive. It also gives homebuyers the tools they need to bounce back should something go wrong after the purchase is made.

They also offer foreclosure prevention counseling where they help people secure a loan modification if possible, and stay in their homes when they have experienced a life event such as job loss or illness.

With the vacancy rate in Washington County at virtually 0% and home prices skyrocketing, Sun Country Home Solutions will expand its services in 2018 to include affordable housing with projects located in St. George, Hurricane, Washington and Ivins. They hope to continue working with local businesses, city and county governments and other non-profits to provide more affordable housing options for the residents of Washington County.

Trinity Lutheran to host annual tea

The Tea Ladies at Trinity Lutheran Church, 410 E. 1935 North, Cedar City, have announced their annual Tea will be held Saturday Feb. 10 at 2 p.m.

This year's Valentine Tea theme will be "Honoring Treasured Friends." While enjoying the fare, the ladies will also be entertained by the music of pianist Harry Taylor. A Hat Show is also on the program; ladies are invited to wear their own favorite hats.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by contacting Diane Molnar at 435-867-9163. Space is limited.

The Trinity Lutheran Church is located across from Fiddlers Elementary School. This Tea is an ongoing venture to provide fellowship to all ladies in Cedar City and also to donate to various different local charities.

Ballet Studio Offering New Classes

Cedar City Junior Ballet, located at 173 N. 100 West, Cedar City, will offer new dance classes starting in February. In addition to current classical ballet classes for ages four to young adult, CCJB will now be offering new classes for toddlers, school-aged children, and teens and adults, and will focus on both ballet and tap styles.

“CCJB offers the advantage of being the only dance studio in Cedar City that focuses strictly on classical ballet training as the cornerstone of our instruction,” artistic director Lise Mills said.

CCJB’s current ballet classes, taught by Lise Mills, include Pre-primary (ages four to seven, once a week), Primary (ages seven to nine, twice a week), Pre-Pointe (ages nine to thirteen twice a week), Beginning Pointe (twice a week), and Intermediate/Advanced Pointe (once or twice a week).

For more details about classes and tuition or to preregister before Feb. 5, visit cedarcityjuniorballet.com or call 435-867-4719.